Film Lens
Power Trip is a documentary directed by Paul Devlin that examines the electricity crisis in Georgia following the Soviet Union's collapse. The film focuses on the privatization of the electric utility company Telasi, which was sold to AES Corporation in 1999. It shows the struggles of AES-Telasi employees as they attempt to provide consistent power to customers amid rampant corruption and widespread non-payment of electricity bills. At the time of the takeover, 90% of customers were not paying for electricity, a situation exacerbated by low salaries and the legacy of free electricity during the Soviet era.
The documentary captures the chaos in Tbilisi as AES-Telasi began cutting off power to those who owed money, leading to riots and unrest. It reveals the extent of government corruption that allowed some companies to receive electricity without payment for years. The film concludes with AES Corporation's decision to sell Telasi to a Russian company after investing millions without achieving profitability.
Why Watch
- •See the impact of corruption on Georgia's power supply
- •Meet AES-Telasi employees facing unpaid bills
- •Find out why riots erupted in Tbilisi over electricity
Did You Know
•In 1999, Georgia sold the electric utility Telasi to AES Corporation.
•90% of customers were not paying for electricity when AES-Telasi took over.
•The film won 10 film festival awards, including top prizes at Berlin and Hot Docs.
•AES Corporation spent tens of millions of dollars before selling Telasi.
Perfect For
Electricity crisesPost-Soviet historyCorporate accountability